TYPHOON SEASON PREP: Preparing Dogs For A Storm

With typhoon season on the way I'm releasing a number of blog posts which will have information to help you prepare. This information is based on my past experiences going through typhoon seasons and I hope that you can find elements of these posts helpful. 

Typhoon season brings a lot of concerns but one that many people have contacted me in the past about, and that I have already received a question about for this upcoming season, is how to prepare dogs for typhoon season. Of course unlike cats and pocket pets dogs are taken outside to relieve themselves so how does on go about doing that when it's raining and heavy wind is blowing outside? In this post I am going to discuss some of the things I have done throughout the years to prepare my dogs for typhoon season.

Training: 

If you chose to have dogs during your time here in Okinawa one of the things that is most important is to ensure that they have proper training not only to be an obedient dog but also so that they can handle any situation which is thrown at them. In fact these elements of training your dog to handle these situations is why I chose to make this the first post in the series because it is likely to take some time. Regarding typhoon preparation the type of training that we will be focusing on today is the dog's ability to "hold it" until you can bring it outside. This will prevent accidents from happening in the house. This training usually starts very young but can be done by slowly increasing the intervals between the time that you take your dog outside. Maybe today you take him outside at 7am but tomorrow you take him out at 7:30am. This is not only helpful during the typhoon season but if for whatever reason you leave the house and don't get back home in time you can be confident that your dog is not going to relieve himself or herself in the house.

Another thing I like to do which helps me with this is training your dog not to "go" unless you're ready for it. This is a very simple concept and also will make your life a lot easier. Contrary to popular belief dogs do not need to go for a walk to relieve themselves. In fact there are a lot of people who think that this is necessary but mistake their dog's habit for marking as their need to urinate. Take your dog to the same spot every time you take them outside and allow them to establish that when we are here it's time to do your business. Also do not allow your dog to mark when on walks by preventing them from excessively sniffing. This will not only prevent your dog from pulling you and frequent stops but it will also teach your dog that marking . . . doesn't need to be saved up for (let's say). They will then relieve themselves all at once rather than feel the necessity to be out for long periods of time. We'll talk more about why this is necessary in the "During The Storm" section below.

Food and Water: 

Naturally the amount of food and water that you give your dog is going to determine the frequency of trips outside which is why if there is a storm in progress I limit my dogs' access to food and water. According to various dog experts dogs can go for about 2 or 3 days comfortably without food and with limited water. This is reflected in various sources regarding preparing your dog for a long flight. Of course being that I am with my dogs unlike if they are in transport via jet or what have you I can still give my dogs food, I just limit the amount. The way I decide how much to give is based on the severity of the storm and when it is hitting. (I suppose it might also be determined by your location as well). If the storm is going to hit during the time that I usually feed my dogs but will be over by the next morning I may only give them a few bites each whereas if the storm is not very severe I might not have a problem giving them about half a serving each. Another technique I use especially if a storm is going to last for quite a long time is to treat dog food like treats and give a few kibbles throughout the course of the day. This keeps the dogs active, playing and still with something in their stomach.

When it comes to water I have a slightly more structured but similar approach. There are two methods that I have tried and seem to work well. The first is that I leave the water bowl down but only put enough water to cover the bottom of the bowl. This gives the dogs just enough water to wet their whistle but doesn't promote nonstop drinking throughout the day. The second method is to pick the bowl up completely and only put it down about 3 or 4 times a day for about a minute at a time. This gives the dogs the chance to gulp up some water but not get too much where they need to immediately after head outside. Although this would not be an acceptable practice for long term use it is just fine for a few days while a storm passes.

During The Storm: 

Much like children dogs need to be entertained so I usually make dog treats/bones an item to pick up when I am doing my typhoon shopping. I try to pick up something that I do not give them regularly which keeps their mind off the noises from the storm and distracts them from the regular schedule that they might have. They chomp away at the bones or whatever and have something to concentrate on which is very helpful.

I also find myself paying close attention to the radar to see when bands are sweeping through. This will give me a good indication as to when there will be a break in the storm and we can run the dogs out briefly before the wind and rain picks back up. This is why it is important to ensure that your dogs are trained to use a particular area as a spot to relieve themselves. Bands and breaks in the storm come as quickly as they go so it's best to know that you can run out very fast and be back before conditions pick back up again.

It may take a little prep and hard work on your behalf but preparing your dog(s) for the typhoon season is worth every second of hard work. What are some methods that you've used in the past? Did you find anything effective or ineffective? Let us know in the comments below!

Rain or Shine: Every day is a good day for an umbrella in Japan!

When coming to Japan there are bound to be a lot of things that catch your eye. One might be the use of umbrellas. Rain or shine it seems as though every time is a good time for an umbrella and everyone has one.

Why an umbrella and not a rain coat: 

If you're from America like me chances are the idea of using an umbrella is a bit oldfangled. Why carry an umbrella around when you could just wear a rain coat right? I thought the same thing myself at first but it wasn't long after one rainy season when it all started to come together. Rain coats are cumbersome, hot (especially during the warm summer months here in Okinawa) and they never seem to really do the job for anything above the neck. Rain coats are also expensive and unlike an umbrella they are not one size fits all.  On the other hand you have the umbrella which is affordable, available almost anywhere you go and there's no need to look as though you had your head dunked in a toilet once you get where you're going.

How inexpensive are we talking: 

Umbrellas are incredibly inexpensive. Just today I picked one up for a whopping ¥37 although you an also find them for varying prices with the most topping off at about ¥300 for a standard clear "keep the rain out" umbrella. Of course there are other fashionable umbrellas that can be purchased at a higher price such as the Gachapin umbrella that I have in my car just waiting to save me from an unannounced rain storm but overall you won't find yourself spending too much money on one of these.

Where can I get one: 

Umbrellas are all over the place from your local shopping center, grocery store, convenience store and even those little specialty shops that sell souvenirs. No matter where you go, you're going to have an umbrella available for purchase.

Wait a second. . . did you say umbrellas in the sun: 

The umbrellas that you see people using in the summer sun are not your standard umbrella. In fact about 90% of the time they are parasols the other 10% of the time it's someone who is actually using an umbrella meant for rain to shade them from the sun but that's an entirely different story all together. These parasols are not like you might be familiar with from Japanese style art or photo sessions. They are lace rather than paper and are usually lined with a special material which is designed to block UV rays. (You'll hear more about UV rays being blocked by various fabrics in other posts and videos I will make leading up to the summer.)

Although it might seem silly, the idea of carrying around a parasol in the summer that is, they are very effective in shading you from the sun and keeping you cool. Here in Okinawa the sun can be very hot and using one of these is very helpful.

How much do parasols cost: 

Unfortunately parasols are not as inexpensive as the rain umbrellas. They can run anywhere from ¥500 although it's safe to assume that you can get one or ¥1500. As I mentioned there are various styles of these which come in lace, other fabrics or even in just standard black which will effect the price. You can also find some parasols which work both to block sun and rain. These tend to be on the higher price side.

How Japan accommodates umbrella users: 

One of the great things about being in Japan is that if you want to use an umbrella you're not going to find yourself trying to figure out what to do with it once you're in a facility and trying to accomplish a task. One of the most common sites, especially outside of small shops, is an umbrella stand. Rather than carrying your umbrella around with you when you shop you can put it in the stand and let it drip dry until you're done.

Another device which you may find at places such as resorts and the museum allows you to put your umbrella in a rack which is locked with a key. Simply place your umbrella in your slot of choice, lock it, remove the key and be on your way. At the end of the day or stay at the facility simply use your key to unlock your umbrella and you're done.

Something else you will find, and is probably more common, is the "Umbrella Condom". Ok that is obviously not what this is called in actuality but what fun is life if you don't have something to chuckle about right? Using this device is free and easy to use just stick your umbrella in, pull it towards you and BAM it's wrapped in a plastic bag so it doesn't track water all over the place.

To get an umbrella or not to get an umbrella: 

Look umbrellas aren't for everyone but they are a great way to stay our of the rain and even the sun. While you're here in Japan why not give it a shot? What have you got to lose?

Raining Beach Day

Living on an island you would think that going to the beach is something I would do regularly but this is a common misconception about Okinawa. In fact it so happens that Okinawa's beaches are "far and few" compared to what you would expect. Much of the island has concrete areas to act as breakers in the event of in climate weather however there are some ares where you can lay out in the sand and enjoy the ocean (or sea depending on where you are on the island). Couple this fact with the fact that there are hazards in the water which you need to be protected from like box jelly fish and the fact that there is this huge influx of people who go to some particular beaches it means that traveling to the beach is something that needs to be orchestrated and planed rather than just going (at least for us). We like to prepare ourselves for the beach by packing some foods which are helpful in saving some cash while we are out and about. We also like packing cold drinks and water because it can be extremely hot in the summer time here on this island and although the beach has the water to help you cool off it doesn't often do the job to it's fullest and the result is requiring a great deal of hydration throughout your entire beach visit. 

 

Now back to the title of this post. Today I found myself prepared for the beach everything was ready to go and I was quite excited. After all I did get myself a bathing suit and a swim shirt which was a pain in the ass to find to be honest but that is another blog post for later. Anyway so I wake up this morning ready to go and excited for the trip and . . . . . it's raining. Of course this is saddening for me because I was excited to go to the beach but it's ok. 

 

Fortunately it is still early and there is a possibility that it will get nice enough out for me to go and do some beach going today. It depends on what it looks like here in the next hour or so. Well I will let you know what is going on as the day progresses. . . . . . . . . in the event that you are wondering.